Coffee shops are typically calm spots for a brew or friendly conversation, but tensions can unexpectedly flare. While most disputes are settled quickly, some rare incidents leave lasting scars.
One such event occurred on Monday night, January 13, 2025, at a coffee shop near Taiping Lake in Perak, Malaysia. A simple disagreement over tissue paper tragically led to the death of 15-year-old Terence Tan Kean Leong, the son of the shop owner.
A Dispute Over Tissue Paper
Around 11:00 PM, a group of customers—three men and a woman—were dining at the shop. According to China Press, while a foreign worker was serving them tea, one of the male customers requested tissue paper. 
The worker then informed him that there was a small charge for the tissue, which upset the customer. In a fit of anger, the customer slapped the worker, starting a physical altercation between the two.
Quick Intervention
The shop’s owner, Mr. Chen Jin Ming, along with other customers present, quickly intervened to break up the fight.
Amid the chaos, Terence, the owner’s eldest son, was present.
CCTV footage and witnesses noted that he appeared visibly tense, clutching a chair as if ready to defend himself.
A Tragic Turn
After the conflict was resolved, Terence stepped outside the shop. Moments later, he collapsed unexpectedly. Despite efforts to revive him, he remained unresponsive.
His family rushed him to the hospital, where he was sadly pronounced dead upon arrival, Guang Ming Daily reports.
Described as a Responsible and Helpful Son
Terence, known for being a hardworking and responsible son, had always helped out at the family business. His sudden passing has deeply affected his family and people around him.
Many customers and neighbors, who knew him well, expressed their shock and grieve, remembering him as a kind and diligent young man.
Funeral Details
Terence’s funeral is scheduled for Thursday, January 16, 2025, at 11:00 AM, with the procession leaving from the family home before proceeding to the Greeneries Memorial Park Crematorium.
Investigations Ongoing
Taiping District Police Chief Assistant Commissioner Mohamad Nasir Ismail confirmed there were no criminal elements in Terence’s death.
An autopsy is underway to determine the exact cause. Meanwhile, the altercation at the coffee shop is still under investigation to understand all the circumstances that led to the tragic event.
Watch the video of the fight and his sudden faint here: Facebook, Guang Ming Daily
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